Finer Jewelry was established in 1994 by me, Atalie Finer. I needed a way to support my children and myself after having dissolved a jewelry partnership that I had created from scratch with my ex-husband. So I created Finer Jewelry, Inc. After years of co-running a successful retail jewelry store and wholesale diamond business I was ready to manage a business by myself. Now with 3 children to support, a fantastic housekeeper/babysitter (Mariella), I was able to travel to Israel, to buy diamonds at the Ramat Gan diamond bourse.  I found out that I have an innate business sense and that I am a shrewd buyer. Back in 1994, I was one of a few women admitted to the diamond bourse as a buyer. Today, I am one of a few Chicago dealers, man or woman, who travels to Israel to buy diamonds directly from the cutting source.

Slowly, people started to find the store, on the second floor of the Maller's building. We showed people that we cared more about them than we did about making money. We taught people about diamonds and jewelry. We were very honest about what we were selling and we gained peoples trust and loyalty. The more people understood, the easier it was for them to buy from us. People began to understand not only the beauty of the gemstone, but the value and the romance. We could sell a loose diamond and create a custom made piece of jewelry that would be unique to each customer's desires, and we could do this at a very competitive price.

Roy Duran, jewelry designer, joined my firm in 2001. He brought a fresh take to how we designed, produced, finished and delivered our products to both wholesale and retail customers. Roy, a talented painter, sculptor, and bench jeweler, brings his skills as a metalsmith and takes the concept of custom jewelry to levels unseen in the Chicago market. Roy takes an idea from paper to finished metal masterpiece in a timely manner. His jewelry often turns into a quality, heirloom treasure that will be proudly passed down to future generations.

Finer Jewelry was very lucky to have Vera Tumbarello join our ranks in 2006. Not only is Vera a skilled GIA Graduate Gemologist, she is a passionate person who views jewelry selling as a romantic art- especially with our engagement rings. Her appraisals for the jewelry we sell has won praise from our customers due to their professional approach and thoroughness in fact.

Our policy of soft sell, combined with active listening and a pinch of common sense has enabled our business to grow. Not only do we have very loyal customers, they are very kind in recommending their friends and relatives. Being the jeweler that "cares" has paid off not only financially for both our customers and our business, but in reams of "good Karma."